EUAM hosts round table on crimes against cultural heritage in Kyiv
On 16 September, the European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM) in Ukraine together with the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications (MCSC) hosted a round table to discuss ‘National Approaches to Combating Crimes Against Cultural Heritage’ in Kyiv.
Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, Ukraine has faced a systemic threat related to the illegal export of Ukrainian cultural assets. The MCSC has responded by building active cooperation with international partners, in particular with EUAM, to create a strategy to combat this threat.
Participants discussed the best practices of EU countries in creation of specialised law enforcement units and their interaction with state institutions and international partners for the effective fight against crimes targeting cultural heritage.
The round table was attended by representatives of the Office of the Prosecutor General, the National Police, the Security Service of Ukraine, the State Customs Service, the Bureau of Economic Security, intelligence structures, as well as international experts, including from the United States of America (Fiona Greenland, Head of the CURIA Lab).
Opening the event, the Deputy Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications for European Integration, Andrii Nadzhos presented the Ministry’s initiative to establish an International Coalition to Combat the Illegal Export of Cultural Property. This initiative will include state authorities, law enforcement agencies, international partners, and members of the public.
Deputy Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications for Digital Development, Digital Transformations, and Digitalisation, Anastasiia Bondar, presented the Ministry’s digital projects: an open dashboard with information on damage to cultural infrastructure and an electronic register of the museum fund. She also emphasised the importance of digitising inventory books and documentation to form an evidence base in international judicial proceedings.
The event also included panel discussions with the participation of law enforcement representatives from Italy, France, Spain, and Romania. They shared their experiences in creating and operating specialised units for the protection of cultural assets.
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